Plasma Fatty Acids, Not Dietary Fatty Acids, Associated with Obesity in Four Ethnic Minority Groups Unique to Southwest China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Dietary fatty acids (DFAs) and plasma fatty acids (PFAs) are linked to obesity. However, whether this association exists among ethnic minorities remains lacking. The present cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the correlation between DFAs, PFAs and obesity in four ethnic minority groups to Southwest China.

Methods

A total of 166 obese people, and 166 normal-BMI subjects matched based on their age-, sex-, and ethnicity- were recruited from four different ethnic minority groups. DFAs were obtained through food frequency questionnaires. PFAs were assayed by GC/MS method. Binary and multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation among DFAs, PFAs and obesity. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was conducted to assess the relationship between DFAs and PFAs.

Results

FAs were found to be highest in the Naxi people and lowest in the Hani people. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma C16:0 (OR = 1.310; 95% CI, 1.028–1.669) in the Hani people; plasma C20:3 n-6 (OR = 6.250; 95% CI, 1.224–31.927) and dietary C20:1 (OR = 9.231; 95% CI, 1.253–68.016) in the Wa people; plasma C18:0 (OR = 0.788; 95% CI, 0.681–0.912) in the Naxi people were seen to be independent predictive factors for obesity. CCA showed that DFAs were positively correlated with PFAs in the Naxi (r: 0.676; P < 0.05) and Bulang people (r: 0.897; P < 0.05), but there was no correlation in the Hani and Wa people.

Conclusion

In this study, PFAs but not DFAs were independently associated with obesity, and different among the four ethnic minorities.

Keywords:

• dietary fatty acids
• plasma fatty acids
• obesity
• minorities
• canonical correlation analysis

Data Sharing Statement

The supporting documents for this study are available from the corresponding author, Jianzhong Yin, on reasonable request.

Ethical Conduct

The study met the standards for the ethical treatment of participants and was approved by Kunming Medical University Medical Ethical Review Board.

Consent to Publication

The publication consent has been attached.

Acknowledgments

We thank all the participants in the study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work and declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81860597 and 81360427) and Youth Talent Program of Yunnan “Ten-thousand Talents Program” (YNWR-QNBJ-2019-042).